My Block Of Every Other Month Quilt is finished!

Hi There Folks!

I hope you are all doing well. I have been busy quilting as usual. I have been traveling to teach and do trunk shows too. That has been quite fun. Earlier this month I squeezed my own quilt into the Custom quilt queue. It was super fun to quilt. I don't make many quilts these days as I spend most of my time quilting for people. While I was making this quilt I knew how I wanted to quilt each section so the quilting went quite quickly. I think the quilt needs a different name than #KCMQGBOEOM What are your ideas for a different name? I stink at naming quilts.

Here I am in my sunny studio. I have a basement studio too. My quilting business has swollen to take up quite a bit of the house. If we ever move I think I need an out building to set up shop it. Oh and that fluff ball under my arm is my daughter's cat Ragnar. He is a dream boat.  All the tutorials for this quilt are here on my blog and over on my Youtube Channel. If you make blocks from my tutorials I sure would LOVE to see them. Please tag me on Instagram, or send me a picture. I will happily make more tutorials if I see that people are using them. Its a little vainglorious to just write posts that no one reads or is inspired by. So sound off if you are here. Now, lets look at pictures.

Almost ALL the fabric in this quilt is Cotton+Steel from my shop. Go get some for yourself if you like. For the next couple days you can use the code SUMMERBREAK to get 15% off your fabric purchase of $25 or more. There is some great stuff in the shop and more on the way.

I used 2 layers of batting. Quilters Dream Blend on the bottom and Wool on top. Using two layers of batting creates a false trapunto look. The un-quilted bits pop and it looks more fancy. The quilting can really show off.

The whole quilt is quilted with Glide thread in the color Tar Heel. Not only is it a great color, but I like the name too.

I did a little curved crosshatching because it is fun and I don't do it very often. I love Linda's rulers from The Quilted Pineapple. They are the best I have ever used.

So there you go. Everything I can think of about this quilt. Please ask questions if any spring to mind.

Cheers!
Tia

Cotton+Steel Liberated Quilt

Hey there! 

Lets Look at one of my quilts real quick. Many of you know of my love for the quilt maker extraordinaire Gwen Marston. I adore her and I think she is a national treasure. She has been the single biggest influence in my quilting life.  Improv piecing is my very favorite way to make quilts. I made this one as a class sample. I will be teaching Improv piecing at 2 different shops this summer. While I have several Improv quilts I could have used as class samples it is almost impossible to resist the call to make another.

For this one I choose two of my fat quarter bundles to work from Gelato and Land Air and Sea - from my shop. They are on sale at the moment by the way. I love how this mustard yellow interacts with the fuchsia and aqua.

This was also so very fun to quilt. There is no pressure at all when I quilt for myself and little wobbles work well with Improv piecing, I think.

I used wool batting for this quilt and I love how it puffs up in the un-quilted parts.

This quilt is all freehand quilted.

I got to swirl the center. Swirls never get old.

I FINALLY got to use that crazy bug print. I fussy cut the little beasts and I am thrilled with the results.

Spike border all around with echo quilting.

That ribbon in the aqua sashing was fun.

No block I love more than a Liberated Star.

Lets get a little closer so we can really see the sparkle of the metallic in the fabric. Shimmer!

Some crosshatching in the double gauze looks pretty. And my daughters fat black cat searches this spot out to set up camp on. It is his favorite. And some fun quarter Log Cabins

The back is Voile Mystery food. Voile with wool batting makes one fabulous quilt folks. Very squishy.

And I used the selvage.

If you want to see this quilt in real life it is hanging up at Meadows Quilt Shop in Leavenworth.

Quilted Zipper Pouch Class (Thursday 13, Nov 2014)

Hey there! I have one more class to announce. If you are here for the Blog Hop HERE is a direct link to that post. You are welcome to stay here of course and ready through. 

I am teaching my favorite Quilted Zipper Bag on Thursday 13, NOV at Meadows Quilt Shop in Leavenworth, KS. This is a really fun class where we will cover many simple techniques including machine quilting, improv piecing, hand stitched embellishment and simple zipper instillation. This is a great little bag that is just the tip of the iceberg as far as zipped bags go. I hope you join me, we already have a pretty full class, but I bet there is room for a couple more!

This is another class I am willing to travel to teach. It is such a blast! Please Email me if you would like more information.

Cheers!
Tia

Improv Piecing Workshop Tomorrow (12 Nov 2014)

Hey there! Tomorrow I will be teaching an Improv piecing workshop at 3 Ladies Quilt Shop in Leavenworth, KS. If you are ready to set yourself free with improv piecing but aren't quite sure where to start, this is the class for you. I will teach 8 of the most popular Improv quilt blocks and 3 fabulous borders.

This will be a great class full of fun and inspiration. Improv is my favorite method of quilt making. It was my springboard to truly LOVING quilt making. This method truly made quilt making therapeutic and thrilling for me. I hope to share my passion about this style with you. I think there are still some openings in the class here in Leavenworth. I am also willing to travel if you have a shop or guild that would like to have a day of really fantastic block making.

Cheers!
Tia